The investigation is expected to spread to Alberta because the British Columbia farm bought cattle from that province
Testing has begun on the herd mates of a British Columbia cow determined to have bovine tuberculosis. The animal came from a ranch in the province’s southern interior with a herd of about 500 animals. Since the case was announced Nov. 19, three more herds in the region have been placed under quarantine as part […] Read more
Barb Glen
Stories by Barb Glen
Blue cow designation boosts Canadian dairy
Parmalat and Agropur are making greater use of the logo on products, and other dairy processors in Canada are also considering using it
CALGARY — Canada needs more blue cows. So says the Canadian dairy industry about the blue cow logo that can be affixed to domestic dairy products to inform consumers about origin. Producers and processors say they have noticed greater consumer interest in buying Canadian dairy products since controversy associated with recent trade agreements caught their […] Read moreManitoba clearing the deck of PED as cases are resolved
OTTAWA — Manitoba’s 14 cases of porcine epidemic diarrhea that emerged in 2018 are in various stages of resolution. Dr. Glen Duizer, the province’s chief veterinary officer, said in a Nov 28 interview that seven of the 14 are now presumed free of the disease and another three are in transition, “which means they’ve removed […] Read more
Dairy standards defended
CALGARY — Canada has agreed in various trade agreements to allow the import of more dairy products from other countries. Some producers wonder what standards are applied to those products, given the high standards expected of Canadian dairy farms and processors. Yves Leduc, trade and policy analyst with Dairy Farmers of Canada, said that question […] Read more
Dairy braces for trade deal losses
CALGARY — Various Canadian agricultural commodity groups have praised results of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, noting it preserved an existing export relationship and limited the trade uncertainty generated by renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement. And if the dairy industry had to allow access to 3.5 percent of its market, was that really […] Read more
Nothing fancy about killing clubroot
Household bleach works as well as specialized disinfectants, say experts — and it’s cheaper, too
A jug of household bleach is an important tool in the fight against clubroot. Studies by Alberta Agriculture crop pathologist Michael Harding, which compared different disinfectants that can be used on farm equipment, showed a 50:50 concentration of common household bleach and water killed spores and is cheaper. A few years ago, Virkon disinfectant was […] Read more
Damming the Milk: old idea gets new look
Proponents of a dam on southern Alberta’s Milk River say it would provide water for irrigation, livestock and wildlife
MILK RIVER, Alta. — The possibility of building a dam on the Milk River in southern Alberta is once again being explored. The 1,173 kilometre long river begins in Montana and flows across the international border into southern Alberta, an arid region of the province. In Alberta, it is joined by the north fork of […] Read more
Don’t neglect the boys when their work is done
The bulls have finished their work by this time of year, and once removed from the cow herd they run the risk of being neglected until they are needed again. That’s a mistake because bulls are an investment for the role they play in future production and profitability. “One of the things that we tend […] Read more
Plan to expand protected area divides region
The provincial government has proposed expanding Twin River Heritage Rangeland Natural Area in southern Alberta
MILK RIVER, Alta. — Residents and landowners in the Milk River region of southern Alberta await a provincial government decision about a 7,840-acre expansion to a protected area west of the town. The comment period on the proposal expired at the end of September after being extended by a month following requests from several factions […] Read more
Who will care for the cows?
Dr. Megan Williams had just finished one of the 12-hour days that are usual in fall, when ranchers have their cows checked for pregnancy and decide which ones will remain in the herd over winter. Despite a long day spent chute-side, she was upbeat about the work but concerned about the shortage of large animal […] Read more
